Replies

1. 
   desertmaster | Nov 17, 2006 08:19am | #1

   jarcolio,

     Are you asking if the fence itself locks down at both the near end and far end?  If that is your question, not necessarily.  I got a Biesemeier replacement fence for my saw right after I bought it; it locks down very positively, but only at the near end, by means of a heavy duty piece of angle iron about 16" long which slides with the fence, and a lever operated cam which provides the locking mechanism.  By locking only at one end, the fence is designed to slide into position with very little effort and also lock in place positively and be easy to adjust so it is parallel to the blade. The rails can be ordered in several different lengths.  If you plan on cutting sheet goods (plywd, etc.) I would advise getting the longest rails your shop can accomodate.  My rails are 72" long; my saw will rip up to 42" width.  

     I believe there are other aftermarket fence systems that lock the fence both front and rear (Vega, maybe?).  Hope this helps.     Gary

2. 
   Gnome | Nov 17, 2006 02:31pm | #2

   Take a look at http://www.mulecab.com I put one on an old Sears contractor saw and it works great. You can buy longer extensions than I did.

   
1. 
   jarcolio | Nov 18, 2006 06:42am | #4

   Thanh you for the info. I will check it out

2. 
   Oldtool | Nov 22, 2006 04:23am | #16

   Man, that's a wicked looking blade on that saw. Is that one of those new Carbon-tipped blades?

1. 
   Gnome | Nov 22, 2006 02:47pm | #18

   Nothing special. Just a run of the mill 10" carbide blade. I had been ripping some fir to make window trim. The backerboard on the miter gauge is osage orange. I use it for making miter slot runners for jigs and fixtures, such as my cut off sled. The stuff is incredibly strong and it doesn't need waxing.
   I've checked the runout on my saw and it's less than 5 thousandths. Not bad for something made back in the 1950's.

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 17, 2006 08:01pm | #3

   Note that with the Mulecab fence, you have a trial period (90 days??) that a no-questions-asked commitment to take it back if you don't like it.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

4. 
   marty52 | Nov 19, 2006 03:20am | #5

   jarcolio,

   I have been woodworking for just a year but I replaced my Shopfox Classic fence on my Grizzly 1023 SL after a few months.  I got an Incra TS-LS. It locks front and back, relatively easy to install, dead on accurate even after I had to take it apart and re-assemble it.  It was not relatively expensive.  Check it out at incra.com.

    

   Good luck,

   Marty

1. 
   jarcolio | Nov 20, 2006 09:56pm | #7

   thanks Marty I will check it out

2. 
   bones | Nov 21, 2006 12:47am | #10

   I have the 1023slx with the bessy style fence.  What were the problems you experienced that made you change? Just curious, I have not had any issues with my fence and since installing, it has stayed true.  I do love incra stuf. I have the LS for my router table, and the 1000se miter. All very well made. 

1. 
   marty52 | Nov 21, 2006 05:14am | #11

   Hi Bones.  I had the 1023 for about 2 years.  The fence jus became loose; it wobbled even when locked.  I think the lock was defective and I figured since it was out of warranty, I would rather invest in something more sturdy.  The Biesemeyer was a possibility but the Incra was more cost effective.  And to me, it seemed that something that locked on two sides should be more stable so I got it.  I do like Incra products also; their customer service was great.  I got their positioner for the router which I have to set up.  Should be a few weeks until I get that one going.  I am anxious to try dovetails using a router table-mounted router.  Any experience there? BTW, did you hear about that new 12"TS from Grizzly?  Getting a lot of good reviews...at least about its design. 

   Take care,

   Marty

1. 
   bones | Nov 21, 2006 06:05am | #12

   Replacing does seem the ticket if it's out of warantee for sure.  As to making the dovetails with the router, not yet, I do plan on it. I bought the fence used (here), and have the book and all the templates, but have yet to try. I have used it as a fence system that is completely adjustable. If I need to sneak up on a width, you can advance the system in thousands. Really is amazing. My router table had the Woodpeckers PRL, and with the ls, its a nice combo.  Raise and lower the bit in thousands.  I still plan on learning the dovetails with the incra, but for a recent project I needed to make a very wide box (cedar chest), and for that I got the Leigh d4r. Loved it.  I was really impressed with the new 12" grizzly.  If I was buying right now, that would be my buy. Now if you could only get a sawstop kit to go in it, that would make it perfect.  But, my 1023 is only a couple years old and does every thing I ask, so I don't see that happening. My next need is the Grizzly Jointer.  Take care.

    

1. 
   marty52 | Nov 22, 2006 03:55am | #14

   I got the Griz 8" jointer with the longer bed, G0586.   It came highly recommended and I had no trouble setting it up.  I have not used it enough to form a really well-based opinion.  I got it when it was on sale--a week or so before the parallelogram jointer came out.  I would have gotten the p-gram 8' model.  I have not heard about it though probably because I have not had to look.  I hear the Yorkcraft is very cost effective and comes with the built-in mobile base.  Have you considered that?

   Take care,

   Marty 

2. 
   bones | Nov 22, 2006 08:27am | #17

   Have not looked at the yorkcraft, but I sure will. I generally research everything to death before I buy. It drives my wife crazy.  I have been looking at the Grizz because of the reviews and I have a lot of other green stuff. TS,BS, and horiz boring machine.  Like them all.  Thanks.

3. 
   TinTurtle | Nov 22, 2006 01:03am | #13

   +1 on the Incra.  I have it on my Grizzly 1023Z.  The ShopFox that came with it was fine, I just liked the Incra.

5. 
   oldww | Nov 19, 2006 04:24am | #6

   I HAVE A DELTA CONTRACTORS 10IN SAW(ABOUT 20 YRS OLD)--REPLACED FENCE WITHA A VEGA,MITER GUIDE WITH AN INCRA AND THE DRIVE BELT TO ONE OF THOSE SEGMENTED RED THINGS (FORGOT THE NAME),...IT ALL MADE FOR A MUCH BETTER MACHINE (ESPECIALLY THE VEGA FENCE) WHATEVER YOU DO WILL MOST LIKELY BE AN IMPROVEMENT AND WORTH THE DOUGH...GOOD LUCK..OLDWW

1. 
   jarcolio | Nov 21, 2006 12:22am | #8

   Marty I cant locate a web site for the Vega fence,can you help? I would like a fence with 72" rails. I was looking at a Bieesmeyer but it did not seem to slide accross the table very smoothly ,maybe it needed to be waxed.do you know anything about the Jet Exacta or the Incra?

1. 
   marty52 | Nov 22, 2006 04:00am | #15

   If you have not gotten the site for Incra, it's incra.com or try woodpeck.com-they are a distributor for Incra but have some really good stuff of their own.  Sorry I can't help with the Vega fence.  Did you google it for an address yet?

   Best of luck,

   Marty

2. 
   jarcolio | Nov 21, 2006 12:36am | #9

   old ww (i'm one too) I responded to Marty but maybe you can help with my problem. I'm having trouble locating Vega web site and also Incra. can you help?

6. 
   oldww | Nov 27, 2006 07:25pm | #19

   hi oldww,too. the only info i could find in my papers(pile of) was the tele # for vega-1-800-222-vega. the fence was very easy to install and i am very satisfied.much,much better and accurate than the original. at that time i spoke to a guy named randy there.very helpful.....oops,dug a little deeper:try http://www.incra.com for the miter gage. i found this very unique it that it is adjustable to you particular machine. also,very accurate. lots of luck.

7. 
   cherryjohn | Nov 28, 2006 02:17am | #20

   what kinda saw?

    

   Wicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

8. 
   daveinnh | Nov 28, 2006 06:04am | #21

   I have a Unifence on a Delta Unisaw and am happy with the setup.

   daveinnh

9. 
   auto | Jan 20, 2010 11:26pm | #22

   I have the incra too and really love it. I can move the fence after making a cut. and then move it back to the exact same place as the first cut. Love it

10. 
    auto | Jan 20, 2010 11:28pm | #23

    I guess I should look at the date of a post before I commet on one LOL.